pack n play vs. rock n play

Singingmama10 · August 2014

So I originally registered for a pack n play thinking I'll use it in my room for probably the first couple of months mostly for bassinet. However, I have seen a few new moms use the rock n play( I was thinking I'll have LO sleep in this next to our bed instead of PNP) and they love it. I am not sure if I will have need for the PNP other than the bassinet. I live in a ranch style home so I know a lot of people like the PNP for multi-level homes but that doesn't really apply to me.

My question is should I opt for the RNP instead of the PNP?

PS sorry if this has already been asked, I can't recall anything at least not recently. If so I would be happy to have the link to the last thread

Thanks!

Maelara · August 2014

I liked the pack and play to take to my parents house and my inlaws house so that N could have naps in it. It was a permanent fixture in our car for the first year.

mander82 · August 2014

Pack n play can also be used outdoors during cook outs/ yard work when they are a little bigger. I plan on getting both. Keeping the rock n play upstairs for sleeping and the pack n play on the main floor. I want to get one with the reversible napper/changer.

mamatohne · August 2014

I have both. Technically babies are not suppose to sleep in the bassinet part of a pack n play (unless it has the napper and not for over night). I will be using my rock n play again for this baby for a couple reasons. It's at an incline. I am terrified having a new born lay flat on its back while im asleep and choking. With the slight incline if they throw up it will most likely come out of the mouth. My parents live an hour away and I just took it with us back and forth when d's was a baby. Now that d's is older we use his pack n play all the time at both parents house

mamatohne · August 2014

flutterbuggie said:
Not to hijack the thread but can you substitute a bouncer chair for a rock n play for sleeping overnight? I am still trying to figure out what to have baby sleep in overnight for the first few months.

I think that would depend on whether or not it had sides on it. A lot of then dont.

mamatohne · August 2014

I wouldn't use it for overnight sleeping.

mrsodonnell12 · August 2014

Most baby things other than crib and PNP say specifically not for sleeping in. Even baby swings. I think it's a liability thing - covering their butts.

We have a co sleeper we will use for a few months in our room, then move baby girl to a regular PNP in our room. We will also have a rnp that I will use when I take baby to work with me and for use in our living room just like how we use our swing and bouncer.

I can't imagine not having a PNP tbh. They can be used to a long time while traveling. Excellent for naps at my parents and in laws and wonderful for overnight trips. I think I used a PNP until until my oldest was 3.

lizgrace03 · August 2014

I plan to have a PNP, RNP, bouncer, swing and bassinet LOL. Some were bought off my registry and some I will try to borrow or get on consignment. I'm always the type that likes to over prepare.

minibean16 · August 2014

tarynleann said:
I have both. Technically babies are not suppose to sleep in the bassinet part of a pack n play (unless it has the napper and not for over night). I will be using my rock n play again for this baby for a couple reasons. It's at an incline. I am terrified having a new born lay flat on its back while im asleep and choking. With the slight incline if they throw up it will most likely come out of the mouth. My parents live an hour away and I just took it with us back and forth when d's was a baby. Now that d's is older we use his pack n play all the time at both parents house

What? Babies aren't supposed to sleep in the PNP bassinet? I remember on a previous thread that lots of moms said that's where LO would sleep. What is it used for then? And where is my baby supposed to sleep??? We don't have RNPs here! WAAAAAAAHHHHH!

Dimples0101 · August 2014

We used both the PNP and the RNP with DD. Once in a while she'd fall asleep in the RNP, but mostly she'd just hang out in there while I was showering or getting ready. She slept in the PNP in our room for quite a while. We still use the PNP when she sleeps at other people's houses. We'll use both for this one as well.

2ndGeneration · August 2014

Babies can sleep in the bassinnet part of a PNP (if they are within the weight/size limits of the part). It is designed for that, like an actual bassinnet.

stacyslo · August 2014

We used a bassinet then a pnp last time, but eventually the PnP was only used for for travel and that's what he napped in at daycare from about 4 months on til he was old enough to join the bigger kids for regular naps on the floor. Definitely get one. I wouldn't bother with the one with the bassinet unless you want to use the bassinet for quick changes, which is also what we did for awhile when it was in our room. This time I'm getting the rnp because of of the angled incline (good for reflux or colic which my first had really bad), the bassinet (just in case, bc we have it) and will buy a mamaroo instead of a swing for daytime snoozes. The PnP will go to Grandmas. In fact, we have one at each grandmas. Perfect for trips.

scarlet3egonias · August 2014

Is the newborn napper the same as the bassinet? I was planning to use the PNP in my room for the first few months and putting the baby in that overnight. This is the one I registered for: https://www.amazon.com/Graco-Newborn-Napper-Elite-Vance/dp/B005UV0UU4/ref=br_it_dp_o_nS_nC?ie=UTF8&colid=1N3LFNYPWIYB6&coliid=I2PYV4QSYVT9QU

I did not register for a RNP because they make me nervous. If I didn't have two giant playful dogs I would probably get both though. I just worry that it would get knocked over or something.

ETA: spaces

mamatohne · August 2014

minibean16 said:

tarynleann said:
I have both. Technically babies are not suppose to sleep in the bassinet part of a pack n play (unless it has the napper and not for over night). I will be using my rock n play again for this baby for a couple reasons. It's at an incline. I am terrified having a new born lay flat on its back while im asleep and choking. With the slight incline if they throw up it will most likely come out of the mouth. My parents live an hour away and I just took it with us back and forth when d's was a baby. Now that d's is older we use his pack n play all the time at both parents house
What? Babies aren't supposed to sleep in the PNP bassinet? I remember on a previous thread that lots of moms said that's where LO would sleep. What is it used for then? And where is my baby supposed to sleep??? We don't have RNPs here! WAAAAAAAHHHHH!

I have never understood it myself but my pnp has a warning on the bassinet part saying not to allow babies to sleep in it.

MmmPopcorn · August 2014

I found the directions for the PNP online. I didn't see anything about not allowing a child to sleep in the bassinet, but I don't know what the label on the actual PNP says, so I'm not sure.

stacyslo · August 2014

minibean16 said:

tarynleann said:
I have both. Technically babies are not suppose to sleep in the bassinet part of a pack n play (unless it has the napper and not for over night). I will be using my rock n play again for this baby for a couple reasons. It's at an incline. I am terrified having a new born lay flat on its back while im asleep and choking. With the slight incline if they throw up it will most likely come out of the mouth. My parents live an hour away and I just took it with us back and forth when d's was a baby. Now that d's is older we use his pack n play all the time at both parents house
What? Babies aren't supposed to sleep in the PNP bassinet? I remember on a previous thread that lots of moms said that's where LO would sleep. What is it used for then? And where is my baby supposed to sleep??? We don't have RNPs here! WAAAAAAAHHHHH!

My understanding is that the bassinet portion is more for diaper changes, at least that's what we used it for. It never seemed secure enoughenough for my comfort level to support a sleeping baby, plus they are just kinda out in the open which I imagine is unsettling for a newborn. This is why we used a bassinet (enclosed) but transitioned to a pnp while he was was still in our room.

SarahHeck · August 2014

minibean16 said:

tarynleann said:
I have both. Technically babies are not suppose to sleep in the bassinet part of a pack n play (unless it has the napper and not for over night). I will be using my rock n play again for this baby for a couple reasons. It's at an incline. I am terrified having a new born lay flat on its back while im asleep and choking. With the slight incline if they throw up it will most likely come out of the mouth. My parents live an hour away and I just took it with us back and forth when d's was a baby. Now that d's is older we use his pack n play all the time at both parents house
What? Babies aren't supposed to sleep in the PNP bassinet? I remember on a previous thread that lots of moms said that's where LO would sleep. What is it used for then? And where is my baby supposed to sleep??? We don't have RNPs here! WAAAAAAAHHHHH!

I think that depends on the pack n play you get and you are supposed to remove the napper and if there is a changing table remove that before you leave the baby in the bassinet part. There are weight limits too, but you should be able to use it.

jac409 · August 2014

flutterbuggie said:

tarynleann said:

Not to hijack the thread but can you substitute a bouncer chair for a rock n play for sleeping overnight? I am still trying to figure out what to have baby sleep in overnight for the first few months.
I think that would depend on whether or not it had sides on it. A lot of then dont.

Yeah the one we has doesnt.. so then that would be a no I guess?

<br/ My DD slept in a baby papasan in our room for the first several months. It doesn't really have sides, but she was strapped in so I felt it was safe. I also liked it because of the incline. This time I will get a rock and play though. We had a pack and play with the newborn napper, and she hated it. I will set it up downstairs and try to use it for naps and diaper changes this time around.

uksteph11 · August 2014

Infants lack the necessary muscle tone and strength in their upper body to sustain even a semi-reclined position without the risk of slumping downward. This position also makes it more likely that their neck will flop forward and potentially cause an obstructed airway. An infant is at a much greater risk when sleeping inclined as opposed to sleeping flat on their backs. Please do not let your infant sleep reclined until they have good head control.

carcrashheart · August 2014

RNP. It's easier to collapse and throw in the car and takes up less room at home. Plus the angle sleeping is really a big thing for us, so flat sleeping isn't an option until LO is a bit older. We were living OOT when DS was born so we traveled home frequently (probably every few weeks or so, especially since he was born in October so we had holidays to travel for) and the RNP was always with us. We have a mobile size PNP but we didn't use that until he outgrew the RNP and by then we weren't living oot anymore so it's been used very little. We would plop the RNP wherever we were. Dining room, living room, kitchen, basement, bedroom, laundry room, etc. when he was a newborn I would actually drag it around the apartment with me wherever I went (unless he was sleeping) so that he could watch what I was doing and hang out and I didn't have to stop what I was doing to check on him since he was always right next to me. I might set up the PNP this time but it's more likely to be used as a time out zone for DS than a sleeping area for #2. I just don't see the point, especially with same floor living.

jess123456 · August 2014

We got a new rock n play for various reasons such as success with it from friends and family and the fact that we live in a one floor condo so space is limited too. I love how it folds up so small and seems easy to move around. It was also pretty affordable if I remember correctly.

angelajo19 · August 2014

We have both. The RnP was a lifesaver and DD1 slept in it next to our bed for the first 6-8 weeks. We used the PnP mainly for diaper changes downstairs for a long time. Now revise it for travel. I'd recommend getting both.

lovingaddi · August 2014

We have both. I pretty much agree with everything in PPs. The PNP is awesome for travel. Rock n play will take up less space in your bedroom and also has a slight incline (which is good if baby has reflux, etc.).

Singingmama10 · August 2014

Thanks all for your comments! They have given me a lot to think about

. Pretty sure I am just going to register or buy both and go from there. seems like they both have quite a bit of usefulness. Thanks!

2ndGeneration · August 2014

runnershan said:

So I was totally all about the RNP for LO to sleep overnight in since our room is too small to fit the PNP. But after reading about how the RNP was not safe for newborns I spent the morning reading articles online and now I'm confused. Have any STM had issues with flat heads while using the RNP? That seems to be an issue with the RNP. I totally thought the incline seat would be great since if she spits up in her sleep she won't choke, but after reading all the articles now I'm worried now about her neck dexterity and that she might block her airway slumping forward in the incline. My original plan was to do overnights in the RNP and naps in her crib so she gets use to it and would make an easier transistion to her crib fulltime when she's a little older. Now I don't know what to do. Ahhhhh I'm so confused!!!

Can you fit a traditional bassinnet in your room? they are smaller than the pnp's. I had one for my older kids as we lived in a small place then.

I'm probably alone on this, but I don't really like the RNPs from having looked at them. Haven't used it (they were not invented for my olders) but don't want to use one. I prefer the plain flat surface of the bassinnet.

uksteph11 · August 2014

Please don't let your baby sleep in a RNP. I am a pediatric physical therapist and I work at one of the top pediatric hospitals in the nation. About 30% of my case load is infants with torticollis (tightening of one side of the neck muscles) and plagiocephaly (flattening of the head). Both of these conditions can be caused by sleeping in a reclined position such as the RNP, a car seat, or a swing. These conditions can result in your child having to wear a helmet, to facial asymmetry, or even surgery. I am not saying that there is no use for these items, but please use them sparingly and when your baby has good head control.

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